Last Prompt Roundup of 2011: The Friday Freeforall

16Dec

7:25 a.m. — Atlanta

Hello everyone. Are you shopped, wrapped, candled, decorated, eggnogged, and all the other things that go into the next couple of weeks? I haven’t even packed and I leave far too early tomorrow morning. But, first, my second cup of coffee.

Let us start with Donna’s Poetry Tow Truck where she says: There are patterns everywhere in nature. And, there are. Scientists have discovered that nothing is without pattern, including chaos [mathematicians, of course, have always known this.]. Yes, you will need to visit to find out what the options are. Two more tow-trucks.

Over at dVerse, in a bit of synchronicity, the prompt revolves around quilts and quilting. Can anyone say patterns? Head over for the article on quilts and to read the options for writing a poem.

This week on Poetic Bloomings Marie Elena and Walt ask us to look at preparation and being prepared, especially given the time of year. Head over to read the prompt and the hosts’ offerings. You can also enjoy the poinsettias in their header, if you have not yet bought yours.

AtThe Sunday WhirlBrenda gives us words chosen from Billy Collins’ poem ‘Christmas Sparrow’. Visit to see Brenda’s wordle and to read what others have done. She provides a link, so that we can read the poem. I had forgotten how lovely it is.

Carry On Tuesdaygives us the first line of a poem by Robert H Smith entitled ‘The Clock of Life’. To read the line and for a link to the poem, head on over.

It looks like Susan May James might be back with us and she has a novel idea for a series of prompts revolving around sound. Visit Scribble & Scatter to read the prompt [I wanted to stop writing this and try the exercise she gives in addition to the sound clip] and what she proposes to do.

My guaranteed weekly smile. I even smile when I read my opening sentence. I hope Madeleine never becomes tired of writing these. Whether you like to read them or want to try writing one, this site is the place to play with limericks. I smile as soon as I see the site as next on my list. Go to Mad Kane’s Humor Blogfor her Limerick-off Mondays and a lot more besides. Go for the laugh. It’s healthy.

Over at The Gooseberry Garden the theme for this week isPhotos, Nostalgia,Memories, and Families. And looking towards next week, they will be asking us to focus onSnow, December, Winter Vacations, and Wildness. Down here in Atlanta where it will reach 70 degrees today, we’re not feeling the winter so much.

Visit Magpie Tales for our image prompt. The painting is a little weird, but that allows us to be a little weird with our responses. Or, we can ignore the weird and focus on other aspects. But, the weird is hard to resist, if only to see how to deal with it.

For you alliterationists out there, ABC Wednesday offers a short introduction to Vancouver. Head over to read and to take up the torch for V.

Over at imaginary garden with real toads we get two possibilities with one visit. On Wednesday the prompt revolves around the epistolary form and choosing a character or characters from literary history. The prompt for Friday asks to use the ideas and images in Ron Sexsmith’s “Strawberry Blonde” as jumping-off points. Head to the site to read more on both prompts and to hear the song, as well as to explore, if you have not visited before.

The three words this week for Three Word Wednesday are immobile, proximity, and retribution. That looks tough, but the ideas often spark when looking at the three definitions together. As always, visit them for their definitions. They have a particularly good source and I often get ideas from the definitions rather than the given word.

We Write PoemsWindow faces. That’s it. Yes, I know that was last week’s prompt. Head over to read why it’s here again.

At Poets United, Robb says: We look forward to reading your off the cuff poetic exploration. What can he mean? You will have to visit to find out, but the exercise is interesting, and yes, I did it.

Over at Patricia K. Lichen, Author her Weekend Haiku & Limericks has no new posting, so she may have gone dark for a few days. If you haven’t visited the site and wandered around, do. It’s quite lovely.

And, finally, stop by and add your voice to Elizabeth Crawford’s discussion site Writers Speakwhere she asks writers of all genres to stop by and talk about the life of a writer. She posts new topics every week around Friday. This week Elizabeth invites us to play. If unscrambling words is your forte, or just something you love to try, go on over. We don’t get many chances to talk to each other about our craft. Here’s a chance. If you haven’t gone over, go, before Elizabeth changes the topic! Even then, there is no reason you can’t contribute to a past discussion.

If you have not been over to look at Joseph’s and Tessa’s first issue of Curio, do. It’s a gem of an issue and maybe you will be inspired to submit.

That should keep you busy and writing. If you think anyone else would enjoy these, click on the buttons below. If you have questions, ask. If you write in response to any of these, the people whose blogs you visit would love to read your responses. So, post! And, remember: if you have a topic you want me to discuss, tell me. I’ll take on just about anything and if it’s beyond me, I’ll find sources. What niggles? What have you wanted to ask, or know?

Wordgathering is going dark for two weeks, while I am celebrating Christmas with family, out in California. I shall see you for the first Tuesday Tryouts of the new year, on the 3rd of January; and the following Friday for the first Friday Freeforall roundup of prompts.